MMR Claims

Blacks Solicitors’ specialist Professional Negligence team are experienced at acting for former Claimants of the MMR Vaccine Litigation.

The history behind MMR Litigation

In September 1992 two brands of MMR were no longer used because of safety concerns with respect to the Urabe Mumps Vaccine Virus and Aseptic Meningitis.

In 2002 the Chairman of the Committee on Safety of Medicines stated: “This risk to children of a potentially serious neurological complication makes its use unacceptable…”

The MMR Vaccine Litigation involved around 1,600 Claimants. The claims were brought under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 against the vaccine companies, costing millions in Legal Aid fees, but no compensation was obtained for the Claimants.

The scope of the litigation was defined by a Practice Direction issued on 8 July 1999: “This Practice Direction applies to all proceedings in which the Claimant claims damages for personal injuries alleged to have arisen out of the inoculation of any vaccines against the illnesses of Mumps and/or Measles and Rubella, such vaccines having been manufactured and/or supplied by the Defendants…”

The injuries alleged are believed to have included Autism, bowel problems, Epilepsy, brain damage (including Meningitis, Cerebral Palsy, Encephalopathy, Encephalitis), behaviour and learning problems, Arthritis and Arthralgia, deafness in one or both ears, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue.

The lead Claimants in the MMR vaccine litigation alleged conditions of Autistic Spectrum Disorder, with or without bowel disorder, based on the hypothetical persistence of the measles vaccine virus in body tissues.

How we can help you

Blacks have acted for a number of clients in pursuing alleged professional negligence claims against the solicitors who originally acted for them against the MMR Vaccine manufacturers.

There are a number of issues we are looking at, including:

Losing the chance to obtain damages (arising from the conduct of the litigation by previous solicitors)

Allegations of negligence such as starting Court proceedings out of time, and failing to advance a claim based on the unsafe Urabe Mumps Virus Vaccine.

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Blacks Solicitors LLP. Registered in England and Wales no. OC309566. Registered office: City Point, 29 King Street, Leeds, LS1 2HL where a list of members is open for inspection. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority no. 419628.